INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy women's basketball team opened the 2024-25 campaign at home on Friday evening, dropping a 71-47 decision to No. 5 Ashland.
 
The Greyhounds sported quite a few new faces on the sideline, including first-year head coach Jama Sharp and senior transfer Amyrah Sapenter, who started against the Eagles.
 
Junior Patricia Chikamba led the team with 17 points and six rebounds, highlighted by the recording the first points – and steal – of the winter.
 

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Starting the season on a SWEET note! pic.twitter.com/i1SEqQzkrk

— UIndy Women's Basketball (@UIndyWBB) November 8, 2024

INS & OUTS
The fifth-ranked Eagles took advantage of the early offensive woes for the Greyhounds, drilling three 3-points en route to an 11-0 run to close the first quarter.
 
However, it was the middle quarters that provided some intensity, with Ruby Garner and Kylah Lawson joining Sapenter in the scoring column for the first time in their respective UIndy careers.
 
Autumn Rucker joined in on the offensive end midway through the third quarter, following up an Elana Wells triple with an o-board and putback for two points.
 
Garner connected on an and-1 early in the fourth frame, but Ashland pulled away in the final frame to lead by at least 19 the final eight-and-a-half minutes.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- Wells and Jaelynne Murray tied for the team lead in assists with two apiece.
- Lawson secured five boards on the glass in her game as a Hound.
- UIndy committed 28 turnovers in the loss compared to Ashland's 18.
- The Eagles' 71 points is the second fewest the three-time national champions have scored against the Greyhounds in the last 11 years.
- Sanaa Thomas came off the bench in the waning minutes to finish with four points.
 
MORE NOTES
Ashland secures the series lead with a 21-20 advantage … Ashland's Haylee Smith notched a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds … Chikamba swiped a team-high three steals for the Greyhounds, accounting for half of the recorded UIndy thefts.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds return home on Sunday afternoon for a 1 p.m. tip with in-region Malone. The Pioneers picked up a comeback road win on Friday night at Wayne State.